Newcastle ambition is one thing…complacency is quite another
Jonas Gutierrez has been quoted as saying that he expects Newcastle United to have guaranteed themselves promotion by Easter. He claims that the team is good enough to not have to wait till the latter stages of the season to secure the title. Is his ambition a positive thing, or does it reveal a degree of complacency within the squad that they will definitely achieve promotion this season?
Newcastle have acquitted themselves well this season; many thought that a club with such low morale in August would struggle to come to terms with the nature of the challenge this season. But the opposite has been true, the players have shown real passion and commitment to the cause; as a result of this they sit top of the table after 16 games played. They are on course to achieve promotion, but it is important to remember that they are only 2 points clear of West Brom and 6 points clear of Cardiff in third. It would be a mistake to assume that the rest of the season will be a formality, and it would also be disrespectful to the other challengers to make that assumption.
It is true to say that Newcastle’s first eleven is probably the strongest in the division; other clubs cannot claim to have established Premier League players like Alan Smith, Joey Barton and Steven Taylor in their line-ups; Gutierrez and Coloccini play their international football at a much higher level for the mighty Argentina with the likes of Messi and Aguero. However, the squad is fairly small and there is a lack of depth in most positions. Any kind of injury crisis, and Newcastle could be in serious trouble as the bench is normally populated with untried youngsters. If they are to have a successful season, the majority of the first team will have to play every game.
Another consideration is that the performances up till now have not been brilliant. The demolition of Ipswich aside, most of the Newcastle wins have been extremely hard-fought. It is not as if they are brushing teams aside with their extra level of quality. Most games are best defined as a battle, and it should be remembered that the other sides in the division will raise their game when playing Newcastle, they are the biggest scalp to be had. Newcastle have had to work hard for every point earned this season, and it is vital that they keep their focus. It is a good thing that the players are positive, but it is a fine line between self-belief and complacency, it is to be hoped that Chris Hughton can keep any arrogance in check.
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There is obviously a fine line between confidence and complacency.
Newcastle should go into every game this season thinking they can win and will be no problem as long as they don’t take the 3 points for granted.
Newcastle will have played 42 games by Easter Monday. It’s not beyond the realms of possibility, but I would agree that to do so, they do not take anything for granted.
It will be difficult, but i can see Newcastle and West Brom separating themselves from the pack quite early into the new year, hopefully anyway, bareing a mass sale of players by Ashley and or a major injury crisis.
Its easy to forget that we have ameobi and joey barton out, two very good players at this level and we now have the likes of Lovenkrands and Geremi and Ranger and Guthrie sitting on the bench.
The article is right when it says about Newcastle battling there way to victory, but thats what is giving me more confidence as it isnt just a good run of form and the team is yet to hit its best yet. Sheffield United tried to bully newcastle when they played them a few weeks ago, and they were made to look stupid as Carroll, Nolan and even Colocinni gave as good as they got in that game. The team are up for the fight thats for sure!